Khaleda's birthday

BNP arranges ‘milad mahfil’

The BNP yesterday celebrated its party chairperson Khaleda Zia's birthday by holding "doa" and "milad mahfil" instead of cutting a cake. The former Premier turned 73. Party leaders said they avoided cake cutting, as thousands of people are going through immense sufferings due to floods in different parts of the country.

"We've kept our programme limited to 'doa' and religious rituals. In the current situation, we shouldn't celebrate the occasion in a joyous manner," said BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas while speaking at a "milad" and "doa mahfil" at the party's central office at Naya Paltan around 11:30am. He also said the chairperson asked the party leaders and activists not to celebrate her birthday with any joyous programme as severe floods have affected the country, putting people in danger.

Abbas said they are also praying to the Almighty for the early recovery

of their chairperson, who underwent a surgery in the right eye in London last week.

Later, a “munajat” was offered seeking

divine blessings for Khaleda’s long and healthy life and seeking salvation of the departed soul of party founder Ziaur Rahman and Arafat Rahman Koko.

The party’s senior joint secretary general, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, said at a press briefing that they did not organise any programme to celebrate their chairperson’s birthday as she is in London and the

country is in the midst of flood fury. “We are arranging ‘milad mahfil’ across the country and distributing relief materials among flood victims on the occasion,” he added.

Last year, the BNP had celebrated Khaleda’s 72nd birthday by holding a prayer session instead of cutting a cake. Many leaders had gone to the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office to greet her, but they were made to enter the office leaving their bouquets outside.

The BNP had refrained from celebrating Khaleda’s birthday on August 15, which coincides with National Mourning Day to commemorate the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman along with members of his family in 1975.

The controversy over Khaleda’s birthday began when she first celebrated the day in 1993, after she was elected Prime Minister in 1991.

On July 15, Khaleda went to London for treatment of her eyes and legs and spending time with her family members there. She may return home after celebrating Eid-ul-Azha with her family members in London.

Khaledas birthday

BNP arranges milad mahfil

The BNP yesterday celebrated its party chairperson Khaleda Zias birthday by holding doa and milad mahfil instead of cutting a cake. The former Premier turned 73. Party leaders said they avoided cake cutting, as thousands of people are going through immense sufferings due to floods in different parts of the country. Weve kept our programme limited to doa and religious rituals. In the current situation, we shouldnt celebrate the occasion in a joyous manner, said BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas while speaking at a milad and doa mahfil at the partys central office at Naya Paltan around 11:30am. He also said the chairperson asked the party leaders and activists not to celebrate her birthday with any joyous programme as severe floods have affected the country, putting people in danger. Abbas said they are also praying to the Almighty for the early recovery of their chairperson, who underwent a surgery in the right eye in London last week. Later, a munajat was offered seeking divine blessings for Khaledas long and healthy life and seeking salvation of the departed soul of party founder Ziaur Rahman and Arafat Rahman Koko. The partys senior joint secretary general, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, said at a press briefing that they did not organise any programme to celebrate their chairpersons birthday as she is in London and the country is in the midst of flood fury. We are arranging milad mahfil across the country and distributing relief materials among flood victims on the occasion, he added. Last year, the BNP had celebrated Khaledas 72nd birthday by holding a prayer session instead of cutting a cake. Many leaders had gone to the BNP chairpersons Gulshan office to greet her, but they were made to enter the office leaving their bouquets outside. The BNP had refrained from celebrating Khaledas birthday on August 15, which coincides with National Mourning Day to commemorate the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman along with members of his family in 1975. The controversy over Khaledas birthday began when she first celebrated the day in 1993, after she was elected Prime Minister in 1991. On July 15, Khaleda went to London for treatment of her eyes and legs and spending time with her family members there. She may return home after celebrating Eid-ul-Azha with her family members in London.